Reed

by R. C. Ryan

Ingrid nodded. “It’s all right with me.” She turned to Ally? “And you?”

  Ally smiled at Kyle. “Go ahead. I know you’re dying to see the animals. Stay close to Lily, honey.”

  The two caught hands and fairly danced out the door.

  When they were gone, Frank glanced at Reed before turning his attention to Ally. “Now about this fire…”

  For the next hour, she and Reed filled them in on all that had been going on in her life.

  “Where do you go from here?” Frank drained his mug and smiled his thanks at Yancy, who moved around the table refilling cups.

  Ally sighed. “I haven’t had time to think it all through yet.”

  “Will you repair the building and continue with your business?”

  She nodded. “I don’t see that I have a choice. I sank a great deal of money into this. The building and contents are insured. There should be enough to make repairs. But until the authorities find Glen, I won’t feel safe there.”

  “Nor should you.” Grace exchanged a look with her husband before saying, “We’d love to have you and Kyle stay here with us while you go forward with the repairs.”

  “That’s so generous of you, Grace.” Ally looked around the table. “Of all of you. But I need to be in town, to direct the repairs and to run my business.”

  “I can understand that.” Frank held up a hand. “We can loan you a spare truck. I know it’s a long drive, but it’s late summer, and the roads are clear. But the more important issue is your safety. Now that you’ve suffered two acts of violence, I can’t imagine you sleeping above your business.”

  “But it could be weeks before they find Glen. He’s already been hiding out, without a trace.”

  Frank nodded. “That’s true. This guy seems clever about staying out of sight. He also seems like a coward who chooses to do his deeds under cover of darkness, against a woman and child.”

  “My uncle Archer has invited me to stay with him in town.”

  “I understand you stayed with your uncle when you first arrived in town. You have to know that he spends considerable time on the job. That means you and Kyle could be alone, especially on those nights when Archer pulls all-night duty.” Frank could see Ally mulling his words. “I doubt a coward who targets a woman and child would try anything here at a ranch filled with so many people. So I urge you, if not for your sake, then for Kyle’s, to consider staying with our family until this issue is resolved.”

  When Ally fell silent, Reed looked around at his family before touching a hand to her shoulder. “Is it settled, then? Are you willing to stay here, at least for now?”

  Ally took in a deep breath. “Thank you. All of you for your generous offer.” She turned to Reed. “Yes. At least for now, we’re more than grateful to be here.”

  Reed impulsively leaned close to brush a kiss over her cheek.

  While around the table nobody spoke, Luke said what the others were thinking. “Well, that’s a relief. From that fierce look in my brother’s eyes, I was afraid if you said no, Reed might have to resort to locking you in a room and throwing away the key.”

  After hearing Ally’s narrative of the danger, and the tension they were all feeling, the family’s laughter was a welcome release.

  Still smiling, Grace happened to look at her grandson.

  Though Reed laughed with the others, there was indeed a look in his eye. A fierce protectiveness that told her, more than words, just how much this young woman and her son had come to mean to him.

  She’d seen that same look before. In her son, Patrick, whenever he’d looked at his beloved Bernie.

  The apple didn’t fall far, she thought. Though there had been girls who’d vied for the attention of her youngest grandson from the time he’d been a teen, none had ever sparked such a look before. This time was different. This young woman was different.

  Grace turned to Frank, and the two exchanged a look they’d perfected over a lifetime. A look that spoke volumes, though they said not a word.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Reed led Ally up the stairs, where they followed a hallway until he stopped outside a door. “This will be Kyle’s room while you’re here.”

  He opened the door and stood aside, allowing Ally to precede him.

  She noted a sturdy brown quilt and the brown-and-white-checked throw across the foot of the big bed. There were shelves holding an assortment of books and games and a flat-screen TV standing atop a chest. An open door across the room revealed an attached bathroom.

  She turned to Reed. “Kyle’s room? This is bigger than our entire apartment. It’s certainly big enough for both of us.”

  “No need to share. The second guest room is next door.”

  He led the way and opened a door to reveal a king-size bed covered in a white down quilt. To one side was a desk and chair, and in a little alcove stood an overstuffed glider and footstool, and beside it a table and lamp that invited a chance to curl up with a good book, or perhaps to simply enjoy the spectacular view out the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the hills in the distance.

  “Oh, Reed.” Ally covered her mouth to hide her gasp of surprise. “This is…” She shook her head when words failed her.

  “Yeah. I know it’s primitive. But hey, this is Montana, after all.”

  She joined his laughter.

  He touched a hand to her cheek. “It’s good to hear you laugh again.”

  When she lifted her head in surprise, she caught a look in his eye that had her heart racing. “You make it easy to laugh, Reed.”

  “Right now, I don’t feel like laughing. I feel like…this.” He lowered his mouth to hers.

  The flare of heat was sudden and intense, catching her by complete surprise.

  He backed her up until they bumped the open door. Against her mouth he whispered, “We could always close this and take advantage of our time alone.”

  “With your entire family just downstairs I should be completely turned off. Instead, you make it sound a little too tempting.”

  “I’m glad to know you’re as tempted as I am.” He dragged her close, kissing her with an urgency that had her heart racing overtime.

  When he was holding her like this, kissing her like this, she had an almost overpowering desire to forget all her good intentions and just go with her feelings. “Oh, Reed.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving herself up to the pleasure he was offering.

  “You taste like maple syrup, Red. Something I could never resist.” He took the kiss deeper and drew her firmly against him until she could feel him in every pore of her body.

  Why did he have to be so good at this? How was she supposed to be sensible when everything about this man screamed pleasure and passion? When every touch was calculated to make her want more? And she did. She wanted so much more than just his kisses.

  “Let’s just shut this door and tune out the rest of the world.” Reed continued kissing her while with one hand he reached behind her to the doorknob.

  “Hey, Mama. Guess what me and Lily did.”

  At the sound of Kyle’s voice, the two stepped apart with equal parts guilt and frustration.

  Dragging in several gulps of air, Ally managed to say in her perfect mother-as-teacher voice, “Lily and I.”

  “Yeah.” Kyle took the last two steps up the stairway in a single leap and dashed up beside them. “What are you two doing?”

  “Reed was showing me where we’d sleep.”

  “Oh. Me and Lily…Lily and I fed the horses carrots. She said there’s a bin of carrots in the barn that we can use as treats whenever we’re out there.”

  “That’s nice.” Ally took a step away from Reed, hoping to clear her head. As she did, she saw the way he continued staring at her in that way he had, guaranteed to heat her blood even from a distance. “Want to see your room?”

  “Can I see it later? Lily wants to show me Yancy’s vegeble garden.”

  She shared a smile with Reed at her son’s pronunciation. “It’s ve
getable.”

  “That’s what I said. Yancy’s vegeble garden. Can I?”

  Ally nodded. “Yes. As long as it’s all right with Yancy.”

  “He’s going with us. He said we’re going to pick all kinds of fresh stuff for supper tonight. And then he’s going to let me and Lily…Lily and me help him cook it.”

  “Oh. That sounds like fun.”

  “I know. Want to come with us? I bet Yancy would teach you how to cook his vegebles, too.”

  Ally shook her head. “I’d like that. But I’d better not. I think it’s time for me to get ready to go to town.”

  “Can I stay here with Lily and Yancy?”

  “I’ll have to check with Yancy first.”

  “Okay. I’ll be out in the garden. I hope they didn’t go without me.” He flung the words over his shoulder as he raced headlong down the stairs.

  A minute later they heard the back door slam.

  “Looks like somebody found himself a new best friend.”

  Ally nodded.

  “Now…” Reed took hold of her hand. “Where were we?”

  Ally pulled away. “Not a chance, cowboy. Now that I’ve had time to think, I realize that wasn’t such a good idea.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of.”

  She smiled. “Besides, it’s time I went to town and had that talk with the sheriff.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “You have a ranch to run. Cows to tend. And whatever else you do around here. I’m sure there are probably a hundred more important things for you to do than drive me to town.”

  He ran a hand down her hair. “Since you won’t let me take up where we left off…” He gave a wry smile. “I’ll use whatever excuse is handy to spend as much time as I can with you, Red. We’ll go to town together.”

  “Look, Mama.” As Ally studied the neat rows of Yancy’s garden, Kyle used a little shovel to dig around green fernlike stalks. Minutes later he held up a carrot with the sort of pride expected if he’d been holding a gold nugget. “They grow in the dirt, and Yancy says all we have to do is dig them up and wash them.” The little boy carefully set his treasure in a basket half filled with vegetables.

  “Yes. I see.” Ally looked around as her son and Lily moved on to another row and began to dig. “Yancy, this is magical.”

  He straightened and walked over, peeling off his garden gloves as he did. “I guess growing things is a lot like magic. We dig and hoe and cultivate, and pray Mother Nature will smile on us and present us with this bounty of food.”

  Like Yancy’s kitchen, his garden had been very carefully laid out to be both efficient and pleasing to the eye. There were tomato plants in wire cages to keep them from drooping under the weight of the green tomatoes slowly ripening in the sun. There were rows of lettuce, carrots; green, red, and yellow peppers. Snap peas and beans curled upward around rows of twine anchored between posts. Lining the far side of the garden were strawberry plants nestled in straw, and tall raspberry plants heavy with fruit. Offering shade nearby were apple, cherry, and pear trees.

  “This garden isn’t the only magic. What you do with the things you grow is amazing.”

  The man flushed with obvious pleasure. “I found my life’s calling here on the Malloy ranch. They give me the freedom to do exactly as I please.”

  “And why not? It benefits everyone.”

  “It benefits me, most of all.” He adjusted the brim of his hat. “Before coming here, I had no life to speak of. Since being here, I’ve found everything I dreamed of, and more. They’re the family I always hoped for.”

  Family. His words touched her deeply.

  “Yancy. Look.”

  Lily’s excited cry had him turning away. “What’s up?”

  “Look at the size of this turnip. It’s the biggest one yet, and Kyle was the one to dig it up.”

  “Wow, Kyle. Way to go.” Yancy turned to Ally. “Care to join in our little dig?”

  She shook her head. “I have to go to town to talk to the sheriff. I came by to get Kyle.”

  “Would it be all right if he stayed here?” He gave her a gentle smile. “I know he’s new to all this, but it would be a shame to take him away now. I think he’s having the time of his life.”

  She looked over at the smile on her son’s face. A smile that stretched from ear to ear. “You don’t mind?”

  “Mind? Ally, I intend to turn those two into my little students. By the time you get back, we’ll have harvested a ton of food, and they’ll learn how to prepare it all into a royal feast.”

  “It sounds like a lot more fun than what’s awaiting me in town.” She squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Yancy.”

  She walked with him to where Kyle and Lily were filling up their basket. She knelt down beside her son. “Would you like to stay here while I go to town?”

  “Oh, yes. Can I stay, Yancy?”

  At the cook’s nod of assent, Kyle turned to the next row before calling, “Thanks, Yancy. Bye, Mama.”

  She shared a look with Yancy. “You were right. I would have had a hard time prying him away from this.”

  As she walked toward the house, she listened to the sound of her son’s laughter. It was the sweetest sound in the world, and her heart grew lighter with every step.

  “Ms. Shaw.” Eugene Graystoke indicated the chairs across from his desk. “I hope you and your son will be able to put last night’s incident behind you and move on.”

  “Thank you, Sheriff.” Ally sat, with Reed beside her. “When I left Kyle at the Malloy ranch, he seemed to be having the time of his life digging up carrots and turnips in Yancy’s garden.”

  “That’s the amazing thing about kids.” The sheriff set aside a stack of papers from his desk to a side cabinet. “Sometimes a little distraction is all it takes to get them to move away from trauma. But I’m sure you know that something like last night’s fire could sneak up into his mind when you least expect it. He may suffer from bad dreams for a while.”

  She nodded. “I intend to keep a close eye on him.”

  “Good.” He steepled his hands atop his desk, an indication that he wanted to get down to the business at hand. “For now, I’ll have to accept the word of the two teenagers. My deputy saw their truck parked near the jail at around the time you phoned, Reed. But that doesn’t mean they’re off the hook.” His eyes narrowed. “I’m still not ready to trust either of them. As for that charred bit of torch we recovered from your bedroom, the state lab will need some time to run tests on it. They’re also checking every one of the emails Glen Lloyd sent you. So far, there’s been no trace of him. I think he may be employing a disguise. The state police will try to enhance his picture with a few different looks, from facial hair to glasses, to see if that brings any response from the public.”

  “You think he’s nearby, Eugene?”

  Reed’s question had the sheriff nodding. “In fact, most stalkers have a compulsion to watch their intended victims. That’s why I’ve asked Archer to talk to every building owner here in town to see if they’ve rented out a room to a stranger in the past few weeks.”

  Reed’s eyes narrowed. “You think this guy will strike again?”

  “I do. I believe his first act against Ms. Shaw was a broken window. His second was much more violent. A fire that could have caused death. His emails went from an invitation to get together to an angry tirade accusing her of thinking she was too good for the likes of him. This follows a typical stalker’s love-hate pattern.”

  Eugene turned to Ally. “From my research on stalkers, I’ve learned that his behavior at work was also a pattern. It’s no wonder you didn’t realize what was happening. This man went from being attracted to you to deciding that you needed his protection when Kyle’s father died. He saw himself as your savior and protector, and probably convinced himself that it was only a matter of time before he would break down any barriers you’d set up between them. But when you not only rejected his advances but also moved far away, his obsession took
over his life. First he used up his vacation time to persuade you to come back with him. Now he’s taken a leave of absence. Our state police experts believe he’s crossed a line, and now, for him, there’s no turning back.”

  Seeing the stunned look on Ally’s face, Reed took her hand and held it between both of his.

  The sheriff stood. “I’m sorry, Ms. Shaw. I know this is a lot to process. I honestly believe we’ll catch this guy soon. But until we do, I’d like you to promise me you’ll never be alone.”

  “What about my apartment? My business?”

  “They’re not worth your life. Why not hire someone to remodel your apartment and close up the business until we have Glen Lloyd in custody?”

  “That business is my only source of income.” She sighed as she considered his words. “I’ll need some time to think all this through. As much as I want to get on with my life, I have to admit that this has me really frightened. Not just for myself, but for my son. And I hate that this man, who meant nothing whatever to me, is now controlling my life.”

  Eugene walked around his desk to put a hand on her shoulder. “Your anger is understandable, Ms. Shaw. As a lawman, and as your neighbor, I share that anger. But I do believe we’ll find this guy soon and put an end to all your trouble.”

  “Oh, I hope so.” She gave him a tremulous smile. “Is it all right if Reed and I go up to my apartment now and take a look at the damage?”

  “Go ahead. We’ve finished with our investigation. Just don’t let yourself get too upset by the damage you see. Remember that it can all be repaired in time.”

  Ally walked around the tiny apartment, moving from the small great room to the kitchen, and then to her bedroom, where the blaze had destroyed everything. What hadn’t been consumed by fire had been forever ruined by the force of so much water from the fire hoses.

  Kyle’s drawings. The framed photos that they’d hung over the sagging sofa. All the little mementoes of their lives lay in tatters. And all because of a madman who was determined to control her life.

  Seeing the tears that welled up in her eyes, Reed put an arm around her waist and drew her close. “Remember what the chief said. It can all be repaired in time.”